Swivel joint for a work machine

• US 6,947,819 B2
• Filed: 11/13/2002
• Issued: 09/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Nelson, James M., Wetterich, Dennis D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Behncke, Christine M.
• Application Number:
  US10/292,956
• Publication Number:
  US 20040093142A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,042 Days
• Field of Search: 701/50, 701/2, 172/25, 172/518, 374/03, 374/17, 374/43, 374/46, 374/10, 379/03
• US Class Current: 701/50
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/435 for dipper-arms, backhoes or the like
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/123 Drives or control devices specially adapted therefor E02F9/125 and E02F9/128 take precedence

Abstract

A joint for a work machine having a body and a base is provided. A first member is connected to one of the body and the base and a second member is connected to the other of the body and the base. The second member is engaged with the first member to allow the body to swivel relative to the base. A transmitter is connected to one of the body and the base and is operable to transmit an informational signal. A receiver is connected to the other of the body and the base and is operable to receive the informational signal.

Claims

1. A joint for a work machine having a body and a base, comprising:

a first member connected to one of the body and the base;

a second member connected to the other of the body and the base, the second member engaged with the first member to allow the body to swivel relative to the base;

a first transmitter connected to the body, the first transmitter operable to transmit an informational signal; and

a first receiver connected to the base, the first receiver operable to receive the informational signal;

a second transmitter connected to the base the second transmitter operable to transmit a second informational signal; and

a second receiver connected to the body the second receiver operable to receive the second informational signal.

2. The joint of claim 1, further including a first controller operatively connected to the first transmitter and configured to generate the informational signal and a second controller operatively connected to the first receiver and configured to interpret the informational signal.

3. The joint of claim 1, wherein the first and second members are configured to allow the body to rotate through at least a 360°

rotation relative to the base.

4. The joint of claim 1, wherein the first member includes a first partition and the second member includes a second partition, the first and second partitions defining a first opening and a second opening, and wherein said first transmitter transmits the informational signal through the first opening and the second transmitter transmits an informational signal through the second opening.

5. The joint of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second members have a generally cylindrical shape and an opening, and the opening of one of the first and second members is configured to receive the other of the first and second members therein.

6. The joint of claim 5, wherein the first transmitter transmits the informational signal through the openings of the first and second members.

7. The joint of claim 1, wherein the informational signal is one of a light, a sound, and a magnetic signal.

8. The joint of claim 1, wherein the first transmitter is operable to transmit a wireless informational signal and wherein the first receiver is operable to receive the wireless informational signal.

9. The joint of claim 1, wherein the first transmitter and the second receiver form a first transceiver and the second transmitter and the first receiver form a second transceiver.

10. A method of transmitting data in a work machine including a base, a body, and a joint connecting the base to the body, comprising:

generating an informational signal in the body of the work machine;

transmitting a wireless transmission containing the informational signal across the joint with a first transmitter connected with the body of the work machine;

receiving the informational signal through a first receiver connected with the base of the work machine;

generating a second informational signal in the base of the work machine;

transmitting a wireless transmission containing the second informational signal across the joint with a second transmitter connected with the base of the work machine; and

receiving the second informational signal through a second receiver connected with the body of the work machine.

11. The method of claim 10, further including interpreting the informational signal.

12. The method of claim 10, further including swiveling the body through at least a 360°

rotation relative to the base.

13. A joint for a work machine having a body and a base, comprising:

a first member connected to one of the body and the base;

a second member connected to the other of the body and the base, the second member engaged with the first member to allow the body to swivel relative to the base;

a first means for transmitting a first informational signal connected to the body;

a first means for receiving the first informational signal connected to the base;

a second means for transmitting a second informational signal connected to the base; and

a second means for receiving the second informational signal connected to the body.

14. The joint of claim 13, further including a first control means operatively connected to the first means for transmitting and configured to generate the first informational signal and a second control means operatively connected to the first means for receiving and configured to interpret the first informational signal.

15. The joint of claim 13, wherein the first means for transmitting is a means for transmitting a wireless informational signal and wherein the first means for receiving is a means for receiving the wireless informational signal.

16. A work machine, comprising:

a base;

a body having a work implement;

a joint connecting the body and the base, the joint configured to allow a swiveling movement between the base and the body;

a first transmitter engaged with the body, the transmitter configured to transmit an informational signal;

a first receiver engaged with the base, the receiver configured to receive the informational signal transmitted by the transmitter;

a second transmitter engaged with the base the second transmitter configured to transmit a second informational signal; and

a second receiver engaged with the body the second receiver configured to receive the second informational signal transmitted by the second transmitter.

17. The work machine of claim 16, further including a first control operatively connected to the first transmitter and configured to generate the informational signal and a second control operatively connected to the first receiver and configured to interpret the informational signal.

18. The work machine of claim 16, wherein the joint allows the body to rotate through 360°

of rotation relative to the base.

19. The work machine of claim 16, wherein the joint includes a first member connected to the base and a second member connected to the body, each of the first and second members having a generally cylindrical shape and an opening, the opening of one of the first and second members being configured to receive the other of the first and second members therein.

20. The work machine of claim 19, wherein the first transmitter is connected to the first member and the first receiver is connected to the second member.

21. The work machine of claim 19, wherein the informational signal is transmitted through the openings in the first and second members.

22. The work machine of claim 19, further including a set of tracks associated with the base, and wherein the work implement includes a shovel mounted on a boom and a stick.

23. The work machine of claim 16, wherein the first transmitter is configured to transmit a wireless informational signal and wherein the first receiver is configured to receive the wireless informational signal.

24. A joint for a work machine having a body and a base, comprising:

a first member connected to one of the body and the base, the first member having a first opening;

a second member connected to the other of the body and the base, the second member having a second opening, the second member engaged with the first member to allow the body to swivel relative to the base;

a transmitter connected to one of the body and the base, the transmitter operable to transmit an informational signal through at least one of the first and second openings; and

a receiver connected to the other of the body and the base, the receiver operable to receive the informational signal through at least one of the first and second openings.

25. The joint of claim 24, wherein the first and second members are engaged in a manner that the first and second openings are aligned.

26. The joint of claim 24, further including a first controller operatively connected to the transmitter and configured to generate the informational signal and a second controller operatively connected to the receiver and configured to interpret the informational signal.

27. The joint of claim 24, further including a second transmitter engaged with the other of the body and the base and a second receiver engaged with the one of the body and the base.

28. The joint of claim 24, wherein the transmitter is operable to transmit a wireless informational signal and wherein the receiver is operable to receive the wireless informational signal.

29. A work machine, comprising:

a base;

a ground engaging device associated with the base;

a body having a work implement;

a joint connecting the body and the base, the joint configured to allow a swiveling movement between the base and the body;

a transmitter engaged with the body, the transmitter being configured to wirelessly transmit a steering signal;

a receiver engaged with the base, the receiver being configured to receive the steering signal transmitted by the transmitter; and

a control in communication with the receiver and configured to control steering of the work machine based on the steering signal.

30. The work machine of claim 29, wherein the steering signal includes at least one of a begin moving signal, a slow down signal, and a change direction signal.

31. A work machine, comprising:

a base;

a body having a seating area for an operator and having a work implement;

a joint connecting the body and the base, the joint configured to allow a swiveling movement between the base and the body;

a transmitter engaged with the base, the transmitter being configured to wirelessly transmit an informational signal;

a receiver engaged with the body, the receiver being configured to receive the informational signal transmitted by the transmitter.

32. The work machine of claim 31, wherein the informational signal includes at least one of a fuel level, a track speed, a steering direction, a solenoid valve operation, and a temperature.